Yesterday it was dreary and rainy in Kansas City, so, I turned to my 'comfort food' recipes - Roasted Chicken (ala Barefoot Contessa : stuffed with lemon and garlic), smashed red potatoes, and steamed green beans. Roasting a chicken may seem daunting, but it is THE easiest dinner you can make. The entire dinner can be made for under $10 and it is super healthy, too. I know, you don't often associate mashed potatoes with gravy as healthy, but it surprisingly is. The gravy is made with only 2 tablespoons of 'drippings' and 2 tablespoons of butter - and that feeds 4+ people.

Shopping List :

Whole Chicken - $.99/lb x 3.5lbs = $3.50

Red Onions - $1.00

Red Potatoes - $1.50

Green Beans - $1.50

Chicken Stock - $1.00

Lemon - $.30

Garlic - $.30

Total = $9.10

Roasted Chicken :

Whole Chicken

Lemon, cut in half

Head of Garlic, cut in half

2 Tablespoons of Butter, softened

Salt & Pepper

1 Red Onion

Generously salt & pepper the inside of the chicken. Stuff the lemon and garlic halves in the cavity of the chicken. Pat the outside of the chicken dry with paper towels. Spread the outside with butter, then sprinkle with salt & pepper. Tie together the legs of the chicken with twine. Cut up red onions into large pieces, then scatter around the chicken. Roast for 50 minutes (longer for a larger chicken) at 425 degrees.

Smashed Potatoes :

1 pound of red potatoes, cut in half

2 tablespoons of butter

1/4 cup of milk

Salt & Pepper

Place the potatoes in a saucepan and fill with water. Bring to a boil and cook until tender. Put potatoes in mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Add butter milk and salt & pepper. Mix on low until the potatoes start to 'smash'. Continue until you reach the constancy you like - chunky for me.

Green Beans :

1 pound of Green Beans

1 tablespoon of Butter

Salt & Pepper

In salted simmering water, place green beans that you've trimmed the ends and cut in half. Cook for 5 minutes. Drain. Place butter in in the hot pan, then toss the green beans in the butter for 2 minutes. Salt & pepper.

Gravy :

2 tablespoons of Drippings from the roasting pan

2 tablespoons of Flour

1 cup of Chicken Stock

2 tablespoons of Butter

Salt & Pepper

In a sauce pan, combine drippings and flour - stirring for 2 minutes until the flour has cooked. Whisk in chicken stock. Add butter and salt and pepper. Cook on low until thick.